Dear Community,
A new session at Queen's Park began this week but not before Ontarians joined together on the lawn with a message for Doug Ford: LISTEN UP! We’ve got a BIG job ahead of us & need a premier ready to take it on.
Our healthcare is a mess with ERs closing down to staff shortages. ODS-Poverty is legislating poverty for disabled folks. Inflation means working Ontarians are barely getting by as their wages stay the same.
They deserve better. The good news? Better is POSSIBLE and we have to keep demanding it.
Thank you to Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) organizers, union leaders & activists with CUPE Ontario, Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), Workers’ Action Centre, Justice for Workers, Ontario Nurses' Association, Gig Workers United, Seniors Climate Action Network (SCAN), POOF Protecting ODSP OW Funding, and EVERYONE (including St. Paul's community) who joined today to demand better and make your voice heard.
In my first member's statement I thanks my supporters for giving me the honour to once again represent Toronto-St. Paul's at Queen's Park. I promise to keep fighting for our community and a more just Ontario for all of us.
To the MANY who's work and support brought me back to this seat, THANK YOU. From the bottom of my heart.
I also took the opportunity to shout out the INCREDIBLE Dis/Mantle exhibit on display at the re-imagined Spadina Museum. The show is running until year end and is a MUST SEE as we celebrate Ontario's first ever Emancipation and Black liberation year round.
My deepest gratitude goes to lead artist, Gordon Shadrach, Umbereene, Cheryl Blackman and the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit for bringing this show to life.
Later on today, I demanded that the government repeal Bill 124 to address the health care crisis in this provinces. We don't have enough nurses because they aren't being paid enough to keep our best nurses and attract new ones. If they won't listen to us, maybe they'll listen to Ontario Nurses' Association, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, nurses & their patients across St. Paul's & ALL of Ontario when they say this can't go on.
If Doug Ford & Minister Jones really want to get us out of this healthcare crisis, start by respecting the nurses and other workers the system needs to run.
Have you been to Type Books Forest Hill yet? It's a WONDERFUL gem of an indie bookstore packed full with impressive books, locally designed jewelry and other cool items! Check out some of the books I bought! So many books and never the time to read em all.
I've heard from a constituent that someone recently vandalized a monument to Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes near with antisemitic graffiti. This hatred has no place in our community and I condemn it.
Next week I'll be out in the community to meet you and hear your concerns. I'll be at five different locations in the riding along with volunteers and an ice cream truck! Anyone who would like to speak to me can come out to one of these locations to chat and get a free ice cream.
At 6 PM We'll be at:
I look forward to seeing you all next week!
Lastly, our dear community member, Antonio Madeira is still missing, last seen around his home on July 12 at Oakwood Avenue and Vaughan Road. He is described as 76 years old, 5’5 in height and approximately 150 pounds with hazel eyes, a tanned complexion and balding white hair with a full white beard (pictured below).
Antonio was last seen wearing a dark jacket, light khaki pants, light coloured shoes and a baseball hat.
His family asks our community to continue to look out in more public areas like streets and parks, as well as more covert areas such as alleys, backyards, and sheds. He may be confused and unaware of his surroundings.
His family and authorities continue to be concerned for his safety and are desperate to having him home. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact his family at 647-282-8439, and/or police (416-808-1300) and Crime Stoppers (416-222-8477) as soon as possible.
In Solidarity,
Jill Andrew
Toronto—St. Paul's
